November 08, 2013

Toyota Joins “Tanked” to create Unique SpongeBob Highlander

One of the many automotive highlights from this week’s SEMA Show is this special-edition Toyota Highlander, modified by Animal Planet’s “Tanked” team to contain a SpongeBob Squarepants-themed aquarium.

AskPatty’s CEO Jody DeVere and President of Sales and Marketing, Cherie Watters were at the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show this week, connecting with partners and clients. The giant event, held each year during the first week of November in Las Vegas, is an enormous showcase for both Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Aftermarket tuners to showcase their wares.

Animal Planet’s “Tanked” co-stars Wayde King and Brett Raymer started with the SpongeBob SquarePants inspired 2014 Toyota Highlander, which already carries the SpongeBob theme throughout the interior details and the exterior wrap of the vehicle. King and Raymer are co-owners of Vegas-based Acrylic Tank Manufacturing, and are known for their fun and funky aquarium designs. They busted out everything behind the front two seats of the all-new 2014 Highlander to install an 800-gallon version of “Bikini Bottom,” which stretches the length of the sport utility vehicle. More than 32 species populate the saltwater setting, and even includes a few starfish -- like the SpongeBob character, Patrick.

“When we talk about the size and versatility of the new 2014 Highlander, we now can add how many fish swam inside one,” said Jack Hollis, vice president of marketing for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “The ‘Tanked’ designers and Nickelodeon combined the mystery of the ocean and the fun of SpongeBob into a Highlander everyone will be talking about at SEMA.”

The next stop for the “Tanked” edition SpongeBob Highlander after the SEMA Show will be at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this month. The “Tanked” episode is expected to air in March 2014 on Animal Planet. To find more information about the “Tanked” episode when it’s available, visit http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/tanked.